Country Doctor Finds 'Prosperity' in Telehealth

Almost thirty years ago, Dr. Oscar Lovelace opened his practice in Prosperity, South Carolina, hoping to provide more care in its rural setting.

As a native to Columbia, South Carolina, and Graduate of both Clemson and the Medical University of South Carolina, Lovelace knew early on that he wanted to be a rural doctor.

Lovelace says he values most the dynamic between his patients and the quality of care they receive. When he started the practice, he made sure to know the best specialists in the area, so that he could connect his patients, if the need arose.

One avenue for connecting patients was incorporating a wellness program that would allow patients to see a variety of specialists in Charleston, called Wellness Connect. Lovelace says it is another option for patients, but the notion of telemedicine has been around for a while, with the advent of technology and cell phones.

Lovelace says, “Telemedicine is here to stay and it is going to just get better. We just need to learn how to use it in the best interest of improving the community and lowering healthcare costs.”